Ojai Valley School Family Tree, Spring 2022

Family Tree

A magazine for the extended family of Ojai Valley School

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr. John B. De Nault III, Chairman

Mr. Michael J. Hall-Mounsey, President/CEO

Mrs. Patricia H. Farber, Treasurer

Mr. Andrew Helman, Secretary

Mr. James Casey (L95)

Ms. Kimberly Cluff (L83)

Dr. Robert G. Cooper Jr. (L61)

Mr. Spencer Garrett (L62, U65)

Mr. Craig Marcus

Mrs. Sally McClenahan Dyer (L87, U91)

Ms. Gail “Gigi” Ordway (U78)

Mr. Nicholas Thacher (L60)

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

Mr. A. Carl Kotchian, 1914-2008

PRESIDENTS EMERITI

Mr. Edward Yeomans, 1865-1942

Mr. Michael D. Hermes (L53), 1938-2011

HEADMASTER EMERITUS

Mr. Wallace Burr, 1904-1996

MEMBERS EMERITI

Mr. Robert E. Chesley, 1932-2003

Mr. David J. Donlon, 1930-2009

Mr. Benjamin E. Nordman, 1913-1985

Mr. Anson S. Thacher, 1905-1994

On the Cover

Second grader Kendall Casey, age 8, rode Dylan, one of the OVS school horses, during an equestrian demonstration at Family Weekend in March. There are 15 elementary and 14 middle school students riding at Lower Campus this spring.

This Page

Sophomore Ben Manning (L20) and sixth grader Scotty Hatton pull invasive plants on Anacapa Island.

Contributors

Thank you to Upper Campus history and journalism teacher Fred Alvarez and his student writers for their contributions in this issue. Other contributors include: Tracy Wilson, Misty Hall, Alex Rothwell, Brian Schlaak, Stephanie Gustafson, and Wendy Tremiti. Thank you to photographers CatieJo Larkin (L18), Alex Alvarez (L18), Blake Estes (U07), John Boyd, Misty Hall, Duncan Wallace, Ted Tambakis, Gary Ivanek, Zach Byars, and designer Logan Hall of Sideways 8 Creative. Finally, a special thank you to Trustee Nicholas Thacher (L60) for his personal essay reflecting on the OVS ideals that were implanted decades ago by Wallace Burr and continue to blossom today.

President’s Message

At Ojai Valley School we continually seek ways to improve student learning and enhance the school experience. As part of this commitment, every seven years we conduct a comprehensive self-evaluation in collaboration with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).

Recently, a seven-member team of visiting educators met virtually with teachers, administrators, students, parents, and members of the Board of Trustees to review our self-study and to examine all aspects of school operations. Accreditation teams typically spend 3-4 days on our campuses for in-person meetings, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic CAIS would not risk sending volunteers so we agreed to switch entirely to Zoom meetings instead.

At the conclusion of their visit, the team members were unanimously complimentary of the school’s robust curriculum and the way in which learning experiences are balanced by co-curricular offerings such as outdoor education. They praised our dedicated faculty and caring staff, and they lauded as “heroic” our response to the daunting challenges presented by the Thomas Fire and the pandemic.

The committee did offer recommendations, which included continuing to craft strategic plans for growing our enrollment, tightening the OVS mission statement, developing a broader curriculum guide for the PK-12 school experience, and bringing greater diversity to the student body, the faculty and the Board of Trustees.

The full written report from CAIS came to us in late March. OVS received effective and highly effective ratings throughout the document. One section that stood out in particular was the committee’s praise for the OVS community, which they aptly described as a

place where “employees truly care for one another, root for one another, and take great pride and nourishment in their interactions with one another and in their work with students.” The committee went on to state: “The students with whom we met are happy and hopeful, and their commitment to the school testifies to the impact of the school’s mission and the effectiveness of its philosophy. The faculty are caring and respected by the students. The trustees are dedicated to helping shape and support the future of the school. The administrative team is admired by all for its incomparable work ethic, openness, teamwork, and swift responsiveness to concerns. Students’ parents and guardians are in awe of their children’s growth as learners and people, which they properly credit to their teachers’ patience, generosity of spirit, and expertise.”

We have received full accreditation for many decades and have worked hard as a community to continue this positive trend. It is clear from this latest accreditation report that the visiting team recognized what we have experienced, namely that between the devastating damage done by the Thomas Fire and the impacts of the pandemic OVS has weathered a challenging era and emerged resilient, true to its mission, and poised for future growth and success.

My sincere thanks to the entire community for their involvement and dedication during this comprehensive process. It involved more than a year and a half of meetings, written drafts, responses to challenging questions, and compiling data for a 230-page self-study document. In the end, it is truly rewarding to hear an affirmation of the great work being done each day here at OVS. Our visiting committee chair stated as he left, “You have a great school and you have a tremendous amount to be proud of.” I couldn’t agree more.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Hall Mounsey President/CEO Ojai Valley School

Family Weekend

After months of COVID-19 restrictions that closed our campuses to visitors, Spring Family Weekend presented an opportunity for parents and grandparents to see their students joyfully participating in the many activities that make the OVS experience great. Highlights included a sunset dinner and music at the Upper Campus, and the maypole dance and middle school production of High School Musical at the Lower Campus.

Emily (Thacher) Ayala (L86) and Tony Ayala in front of the Littlefield Student Commons.

4. Tovah and Miriam Starin brush Bubbles. 5. The elementary chorus sings Saturday afternoon. 6. Fifth graders perform the traditional Maypole Dance. 7. James Garrison turns on the drama as Ms. Darbus in High School Musical 8. Molly Quinn, Annabel Billings, Samantha Radford and Eva Nakaue cheer together. 9. Estella Sagol plays snobby Sharpay. 10. Ian Nunney, as Troy, sings about basketball with teammates.

1. The Upper Campus at sunset. 2. Alex Alvarez (L18), Carmen Doane-Barkan (U99), and teacher Lisa Boyd perform on Friday evening. 3. Tony Thacher (L55), George Thacher (L85), Marcia Thacher,

Lars Kuelling Appointed New Head of School

By Tracy Wilson

Lars Kuelling, an experienced educator and administrator, has been appointed the next Head of Ojai Valley School and will succeed longtime school President/CEO Michael Hall-Mounsey when he retires this summer after more than 40 years of service. Mr. Kuelling received the full support of the Board of Trustees following a national search in which community members helped to identify the skills and characteristics required in the next school leader.

Board Chair Jack DeNault III described Mr. Kuelling as “an accomplished administrator, a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, an experienced educator and a visionary leader eager to embrace Ojai Valley School’s history and traditions while charting a path to the future.”

Mr. Kuelling currently serves as the Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs at The Harley School in Rochester, New York. The Harley School is a coeducational day school with 515 students in nursery through 12th grade. Mr. Kuelling has led the creation of a new approach to professional development and evaluation, a comprehensive mental health and wellness program, and a student retention program.

Prior to his arrival at Harley in 2016, he served as the Head of School at Grosse Pointe Academy, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, where he stabilized the school’s finances, guided the creation of a new mission statement and strategic plan, and strengthened the academic program with new learning opportunities, such as a STEM lab and a partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Prior to Grosse Pointe Academy, he was at the Canterbury School in Indiana, where he served in a variety of roles, including high school faculty member, ninth grade dean, and director of the middle school.

In addition to the aforementioned experiences, Mr. Kuelling also served as the Assistant Director at the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, in his wife’s hometown in Mexico, and he began his career at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Latin American Studies and a master’s degree from the University of New Mexico in Anthropology.

The OVS Board of Trustees began to take steps to initiate a search for its next school leader last spring following Mr. Hall-Mounsey’s retirement announcement.

Lars Kuelling accepted the position as Head of School in early November and will take over for retiring school President Michael Hall-Mounsey in July. Mr. Kuelling and his wife, Patty, recently visited the OVS campuses during Spring Family Weekend.

The School retained an executive search firm and formed a Search and Transition Committee consisting of Board members, current and past parents, teachers, and alumni. In mid-October, the Committee narrowed the search to three finalists who all had the opportunity to meet community members during separate campus visits. Mr. Kuelling was offered the position in early November and accepted.

“I am thrilled and honored to join you as the next Head of School of the Ojai Valley School,” he said in a letter to the OVS community. “Patty and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the members of the community when we visited, and we were struck by the vibrancy of the educational environment, the commitment to developing the potential of each individual student,

Leadership Change

and the natural beauty of the Ojai Valley. I remember distinctly when, at the end of our first day on campus, I turned to Patty and said, ‘What do you think?’ and she replied, ‘I think we’ve found our next home.’”

“Our visit made clear that OVS meets each student where they are, values a symmetry of life, remains committed to the lessons to be learned in the outdoors, and strives for excellence in education,” he continued. “My personal commitment to place-based experiential learning is reflected in elements of the OVS program such as outdoor education, shop work, the arts, robotics, sustainability, and countless other areas, and I am excited to leverage OVS’ strong programs and unique location to continue to build its reputation as a leader in the world of independent schools.”

Two Alumni Join OVS Board of Trustees

Sally McClenahan Dyer (L87, U91) was appointed to the Board of Trustees in February. She spent her formative years at Ojai Valley School before earning a degree in Biological Sciences at UC Davis and building a career in the scientific field of biopharmaceutical operations. She currently works as the General Manager of Colorado Operations for Umoja Biopharma, Inc. located in Boulder, Colorado, where she lives with her husband and former classmate, Patrick Dyer (U91). Prior to joining Umoja, she served

as the Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for the AveXis/Novartis Gene Therapies Longmont Manufacturing Center. She also spent 3 years leading AstraZeneca’s operations in Boulder. Mrs. Dyer launched her career in science at Amgen, Inc. spending 21 years in a variety of site-based and global operations roles including facility start-up assignments in Puerto Rico and Singapore. “OVS opened my eyes to the world in such a way that in my professional life I had the courage to pick-up and move globally, continuing my education in the real-world experiences of living and working abroad,” she said. The Dyers have a daughter, Hana, who is studying nursing at the University of Michigan. They are both triathletes who enjoy gardening, listening to live music, and traveling.

James Casey (L95) was appointed to the Board of Trustees in February. He moved to Ojai in 1988 with his family from London, England, and started at OVS in Carol Hall-Mounsey’s first-grade class. After 8th grade, he attended Robert Louis Stevenson in Pebble Beach for three years as a boarding student but ultimately returned to Ojai and graduated from Nordhoff High School. He earned a degree in communications from Loyola Marymount

University and received a law degree with honors from the Ventura College of Law. Mr. Casey worked for the firm of Bamieh & Erickson in Ventura before opening his own small general practice firm in Ojai. Mr. Casey and his wife, Daniela, have two children, Kendall and Jackson, who are current students at Lower Campus. “I have spent the vast majority of my life here and I have made connections with many locals that will last a lifetime,” Mr. Casey said. “I have referred numerous families to OVS and l am proud to say that each and every one of them has been as happy with their experiences as we have been.” The Caseys are avid golfers and Mr. Casey serves on the board of the Soule Park Golf Club in Ojai.

Ideals Implanted Here

OVS Trustee and Search Committee Chair Nicholas Thacher reflects on the process of selecting a new school leader, and a validation of core values discovered along the way

By Nicholas Thacher (L60)

Forgive me if I begin this official report from the OVS Head of School Search Committee self-referentially with an introductory paean to Wallace Burr, who served as the school’s Head from 1942-1971. When I was enrolled at OVS in the 1950s, the school consisted, first and foremost, of Mr. Burr. Patrician, impossibly tall to a second grader, he seemed to increase in stature as I grew — so he remained, perpetually, elevated, silver-haired, towering over me and my classmates, even when we reached the exalted status of eighth grade.

Don’t get me wrong: although we were awed by his commanding stature and status as Headmaster of our dusty little school campus fretted with live oaks, his commanding demeanor was softened by his humorous asides, the particular way he leaned down to share an encouraging word or a pat on the back, his legendary tall tales of the trials and tribulations of the Boney Bean tribe he invented for our entertainment on overnight camping trips to the Sespe Wilderness.

Rumors circled him like California condors, immense, awesome. A paddle supposedly hung on the wall of his office. He was reputed to have once killed a gopher with a bow and arrow in an archery class on the lower field. If you were overheard using the F word, he would summon

you into his office and administer a teaspoonful of cayenne pepper. He was in charge of everything; he heard and saw everything. We listened carefully when he wound up on the elevated stage at our daily assemblies and offered us didactic, hortatory advice:

“Nothing less than your best!” A slow circling glance around the assembly. “Nothing less than your best!”

Or, if we were about to depart on a field trip to a local dairy or the faraway Ramona Pageant or the Santa Barbara Mission: “Always remember, you’re a walking billboard for your school!” It was sort of a funny image, but no one smiled.

We knew Mr. Burr had unparalleled eyesight. He scrutinized us from his perch on the stage as we stood and released our reedy choral voices with the lyrics of the OVS school song:

In a valley surrounded by mountains Lies a school we will long recall, Where the citrus grows and prospers

And the oaks stand stately and tall. In California sunshine, We too like the oaks will grow, Ever reaching skyward

The upper air to know.

As the years add understanding

To ideals implanted here, Loyal sons and loyal daughters Will sing your praises clear. OVS in a valley of sunshine, OVS in nature’s nest.

Ever reaching skyward, We pledge to you our best!

“Words and music by Elizabeth Wittausch,” it said in our OVS songbook. But Mrs. Wittausch was long gone from the school by the time I arrived as a second grader. “Ideals implanted here”— remember that phrase; it became central in our OVS Head Search Committee’s deliberations as we wrestled with the challenge of seeking new leadership and directions while retaining the core values on which Edward Yeomans had launched the school a century ago. Mrs. Wittausch, were she still with us, might have been proud.

One final word about Wallace Burr. He also inspected us as, each day before we sat down to lunch in the spartan dining hall, we stood behind our chairs and recited the standing grace he himself had composed:

As we gather together to eat this food grown in many parts of the world

And brought to us by the efforts of countless thousands of people, Let us remember the interdependence of all people of the world.

Let us ask God for understanding and love amongst ourselves and all others of the world

Remembering always that regardless of race, creed, or other differences We are one people.

Mr. Burr had written this didactic grace, we knew. It contained some challenging words (“Interdependence” springs to mind) and equally challenging concepts. Yet as I look back more than six decades, it strikes me as an extraordinarily prescient, thrilling,

Leadership Change

noble screed — proof, so many years later, how much so many OVS alumni all benefited from being under the care and scrutiny of Wallace Burr as we wrestled with the myriad challenges of growing up in what are now regarded, fondly and rather ingenuously, as the tranquil 1950s.

Flash forward, if you will, from 1952 to 2021 and to our shared challenge of identifying a successor for Michael Hall-Mounsey as the next educational leader of the Ojai Valley School. A Search Committee was created by the Board of Trustees, consisting of 11 members, all of whom shared a common affection for and commitment to the school. We consisted of current and past parents, graduates from several generations, trustees, administrators representing both campuses, all under the care and feeding of a nationally respected search firm specializing in independent school leadership.

Finding myself unexpectedly tasked with chairing the committee, I approached Michael Hall-Mounsey with an unusual request, asking if he would permit me to speak with the teachers, staff members, and administrators from each of the OVS campuses and solicit their anonymous personal responses to the following:

The OVS school song refers to “ideals implanted here.” In your work at the school, which particular ideals do you personally seek to implant in the children with whom you interact?

Leadership Change

I explained in my visits to the two campuses that I hoped each of them would not confer with their colleagues but simply send me a few thoughts on what they most valued. And I was delighted (and instructed) by the responses, which essentially enabled our committee to articulate the core OVS values we hoped would attract promising candidates to serve as our next Head of School.

•••

For those who work in schools like OVS, the work is not a profession, though certainly it has its professional aspects. It is a vocation: that is, a calling. You sacrifice a great deal, and the work is staggeringly challenging. Think of it as not entirely unlike parenting. Just infinitely more complex, given the number of children and hours involved. To make matters more challenging, especially in the independent school world, the expectations are for dealing with the whole child’s development, not simply the narrow challenges and opportunities of academics. And all of the work is often overshadowed by the narrow, insulting cultural bromides with which every independent school teacher is familiar. The three best reasons to teach? “June, July, and August.” The task? “Making silk purses out of silk ears.” And so on.

But when you ask a group of educators to specify or prioritize the ideals they most want to implant in the children in their charge, you start getting at the soul of the vocation — what it is that calls them to the commitment they

make, to assist each child along the thorny path of growth, recognizing that each matures and develops at her or his unique pace. Think of it as the Victorians did: Each child is like one of those gift balls of twine, unraveling with a small gift every few feet and the best prize at the center. Or imagine the vocation as a kind of human origami, folding and refolding and ultimately launching them into a future flight which cannot possibly be fully imagined or predicted. Off they fly. Go, Pegasus.

Here are some of the “ideals” most frequently articulated in the responses I received:

“For the many years I’ve taught at OVS, I tried to instill two things: 1) Be nice; 2) Do the right thing… even if no-one is looking.” (Lower Campus)

“What I would like students to take away from their experience here is a sense of self-esteem, an appreciation for the environment, working towards the greater good while questioning how they can make the world a better place.” (Upper Campus)

“I would like every OVS student to carry through life the character necessary to balance their ambition with their morality.” (Lower Campus)

“Determination and confidence to become the best version of themselves.” (Lower Campus)

“Finish what you start. The way you do ONE thing is the way you will do EVERYthing.” (Upper Campus)

“Let Nature be your teacher.” (Lower Campus)

“Children are great imitators, and the OVS staff gives students the opportunity of imitating their teachers, dorm parents, mentors (in a classroom, on the back of a horse, out on a trail, in the woodshop, skating, on the courts, at the beach…) Amazing things happen to children when they are put in nature, on a horse, with a paintbrush in hand, speaking in public, performing on stage, and just having some plain old FUN!” (Lower Campus)

“You have permission to fail, and the opportunity to get up and try again.” (Upper Campus)

“The ideals I want to be implanted in OVS students are related to integrity and perseverance. I want my students to know that they can learn anything, even if it is hard to do so. Although grades are important, I don’t want that to be the end goal. I want knowledge to be the end goal and the process of learning to be part of that journey. Additionally, I want students to come away from OVS as good people. They should be honest, kind, and considerate; they should show grit when things are tough and persevere so they can make a difference in their own life and the lives of others.” (Lower Campus)

“The two greatest concepts to be implanted in our students are (1) the firm belief that they can achieve anything when they proceed with commitment, passion, creativity, and hard work; (2) A love, respect, sense of connection, and awe for

the natural world.” (Lower Campus)

“I’d like my students to be resourceful and able to work independently; to be able to work cooperatively and respect others and their ideas; and to feel that the Ojai Valley School is a family, in which we can count on each other and help each other. This has always been a strength of the school, and it is reinforced over and over when alumni visit and share their stories and their feelings.” (Upper Campus)

“Confidence and compassion.” (Lower Campus)

“The top ideals I hope students take away from their OVS experience are empathy for others, hope/ positivity/optimism, and resilience/ grit.” (Lower Campus)

“As an alumnus and teacher the ideal I value most is ‘growing great kids with great qualities.’ Experiencing the outdoors with my teachers helped me appreciate the teachers and realize that their character is much more than just teaching.” (Lower Campus)

“Things I see OVS instilling in the students: 1) Work hard to always do your best and never give up; 2) Be an active member of the community who contributes to the greater good; 3) Do what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it, and you won’t have any problems.” (Upper Campus)

“I would like OVS teachers and students to be more educated and familiar with a diverse community and cultures and to be more inclusive. We live in a diverse world

where everyone is moving forward with the changes of our time. The ideal OVS would be a school where anyone can feel part of the school, expressing themselves without fear or intimidation.” (Lower Campus)

“I see great value in students taking from OVS polite manners, individuality, kindness, and acceptance of others who are like ourselves as well as those who may be very different. I hope that students learn that progress and perseverance are more important than perfection. Students are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones to try new experiences in an environment that aspires to allow for growth and bravery.” (Lower Campus)

“Our students should leave OVS having an appreciation and understanding of nature, animals, and the environment. I also hope they develop a desire to challenge, to question, not merely to accept. Their most important value should be integrity.” (Upper Campus)

“Do your best, be brave, be flexible, and be patient with each other.”

(Lower Campus)

“I would like to see students at OVS gain and nurture their independence, an ‘I can’ attitude (growth mindset), a life-long love of learning, and compassion for others.” (Lower Campus)

•••

Well, there you have it. Let the community dialogue begin — the search to identify (“I know exactly who wrote that!”), the arguments

for primacy (“Surely the most important ideal is ….”), the critical commentary (“Talk about a pointless exercise”), the confusion, the wonder, the genuine appreciation for the profound level of investment these adults wholeheartedly and enthusiastically devote to teaching and guiding and nurturing the students in their care. Perhaps, blessed with the unbiased vision of our new Head of School, we can undertake together — graduates and parents from many generations, trustees, teachers, administrators, and staff members — a shared initiative to establish and prioritize the most important objectives and ideals for the Ojai Valley School. •••

When I was in seventh grade at OVS, Mrs. Burr (who had previously been my fifth grade teacher) selected James Thurber’s children’s classic The Thirteen Clocks as our spring school play. To my surprise and delight, she chose me to play the Gollux, a peculiar wizard-like creature who served as the central figure in the script; and to my equally great delight she cast one of the ninth grade girls as Princess Saralinda. To be perfectly candid, I (like most of the older boys in the school) thought the girl who played Saralinda was a goddess. I looked forward to our rehearsals each afternoon that spring, even as I fully recognized in my painful preadolescent fashion that I was personally doomed to months of unrequited adoration.

At the end of Thurber’s fable, Saralinda and her handsome Prince ride off into the distance,

Leadership Change

and the Gollux has the privilege of concluding the performance with one of the loveliest blessings in the English literary canon: Farewell. Ride close together. Remember laughter. You’ll need it, Even in the blessed isles of ever-after.

As she departed from the stage

our Saralinda was clad a long embroidered gown and sported a fetching pointed hat; and she rode off in the general direction of the girls’ dormitory on a white horse selected (I presume) for its amiable disposition, led (on foot) by her Prince, one of the ninth grade boys. Saralinda was perched on my grandmother’s Edwardian sidesaddle, which had been borrowed for the occasion (no mean feat, I should add); and she took my breath and my heart with her as she and her lucky consort rounded the corner of the auditorium headed for the stables. Had I been slightly older (or more worldly), I might have cited Horatio: “Now cracks a noble heart!” But that was then, 65 years ago.

Wheels within wheels. Flash forward, if you are still with me, to an occasion several years ago, when — in my earnest capacity as Chair of the OVS Development Committee — I found myself speaking on the telephone for the first time since my OVS student days with the fabled Saralinda, who in the intervening decades has been very generous philanthropically to our needy little school. I, in Ojai, was fundraising for the effort to rebound from the ravages of the Thomas Fire and rebuild the Upper Campus; she, in Spoleto, was fundraising for a series of concerts by the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, celebrating her grandfather’s legacy by hosting its third monumental Mahler Festival. I was asking for hundreds, maybe (on an ambitious day) thousands; she was tapping the European and international glitterati for millions. Not a fair fight, one might say — but instructive for the Gollux.

Our conversation wandered away from fundraising, nostalgically and not unexpectedly, to that long-ago memory of The Thirteen Clocks She told me how much she had enjoyed the play, how enchanting it was, and how difficult it had been to settle herself gracefully on a sidesaddle while wearing a long dress and pointed hat. Then things took an unexpected turn.

“You know,” she said, hesitantly, “It was never easy for me at OVS. I remember Mr. Burr was always asking us to do our best.” And your grandfather was Gustav Mahler, I thought to myself; talk about high expectations! Then I intemperately interjected: “Yes. ‘Nothing Less Than Your Best!’ He was always saying that.”

A pause. Then Saralinda’s elegant voice traveled ruminatively through what James Dickey termed “the vast beast-whistle of space” that lay between Ojai and Italy, between 1957 and 2021. “There were times, at OVS and later in my life, when I felt … somehow … I had let him down. And I have felt badly about that. I still do, a little.”

I waited for a while, then found myself saying, “Yes. I understand that feeling. I think we all do.”

Another pause — a rather companionable silence, I felt. Then I added: “But we do the best we can.”

Then our conversation returned to the more comfortable precincts of The Thirteen Clocks and her ambitious project to honor her grandfather’s extraordinary musical legacy.

Above: Nicholas Thacher as the Gollux, with Louisa (Griggs) Hagen (L59) as the Widow Hagga in The Thirteen Clocks (below).

Pony Club Resumes After Pandemic Hiatus

OVS Equestrians participated in their first Pony Club rally in two years in March during an event in Rancho Palos Verdes. The four participating riders are all new to Pony Club so the “horseless rally” was a great learning experience. A rally requires the team to navigate without help from an adult, except for warming up prior to mounted competition. “It’s a complicated affair with an extensive list of equipment and rules,” Equestrian Director Stephanie Gustafson said. “Horse care is taken very seriously at all times, rather than the focus being on the riding as it is in many competition venues.”

Congratulations to our hardworking OVS team.

Imagine Concert Brings Taiko Drumming to Local Students

If you were near downtown Ojai on March 25, you may have heard the thundering sound of drumming coming from Libbey Park. That sound was traditional Japanese drumming performed by Ojai O’Daiko Taiko Drumming during the Imagine Concert, presented by Ojai Music Festivals and Ojai Valley School. Nearly 800 students in grades 4-6 attended the outdoor concert that featured giant drums, complex rhythms, and powerful performances by six musicians. Ojai O’Daiko was founded in 2017 to preserve and teach the art of Japanese taiko drumming as well as provide opportunities to advance cultural awareness through performance. OVS alumna and Professor Emeritus of Ethnomusicology Barbara B. Smith (L35) shared those same goals. Professor Smith created an endowment in 1998 to provide enduring support for OVS students to experience and appreciate live musical performances of non-Western music. In recent years, and for the

foreseeable future, OVS has partnered with Ojai Music Festivals to bring non-Western musical performances to a broader audience of students by hosting the Imagine Concerts, first at the Greenberg Center at Lower Campus and this year at Libbey Bowl.

Equestrian Director Stephanie Gustafson and teaching assistant Sydnee Rousseau (U21), with members of the OVS Lower Campus Pony Club Team at their first rally.

Science Fair Returns for Third to Eighth Graders

After weeks of planning, hypothesizing, testing, and recording, students in grades 3-8 presented their projects at the OVS Science Fair in March. Projects covered topics

that included gardening, sports, psychology, chemistry, acoustics, and more. At OVS, the Science Fair is an annual event (although one was canceled last year amid

the pandemic). Projects encourage students to develop a question about the world around them, and then design and carry out an experiment that aims to answer that question. The school has a long history of teaching students through the Science Fair how to identify and research innovative topics and then present their findings with well-written reports, colorful project boards and oral presentations. In past years, students have gone on to compete at the county and state level at the California State Science Fair. Former Science Teacher Matt Inman kept several of their original science boards in his classroom years after the students graduated, examples of award-winning inquiry in fields of bio-engineering, hydrodynamics, zoology and materials science.

Spring Musicals Debut on Upper, Lower Campuses

OVS middle school students performed a rousing production of “High School Musical” during Spring Family Weekend. Performing Arts Coordinator Andy Street has been asked over the years to put on this show, but put it off until this year. He thought now would be the perfect time to embrace a fun and active musical to get the kids out of the COVID-19 slump. After all, what’s better than dancing on tables and playing basketball? More than 40 middle school students, faculty members, staff and parents were involved in this year’s production inside the Greenberg Center.

Next up: The high school students will perform a musical titled Good Trouble in Oz, based on the shows Wicked, The Wizard of Oz, and The Wiz on April 29.

Seventh grader Aashna Higbee, in High School Musical.

Eighth grader Kayiba Johnson shares her project with fellow ochos Sela Duque and Liv Henderson.

Soccer, Basketball Advance to Playoffs

It’s been an exciting year for OVS sports! The Cross Country and Soccer teams both won Omega League Championships and advanced to the CIF playoffs. The Boys’ Basketball team also advanced to the playoffs at the end of the winter season.

Currently, the OVS Baseball and Golf teams are both undefeated in league play, and the Boys Volleyball team is playing strong in its first competitive season in 12 years as a renewed sport at the Upper Campus. Go Spuds!

Sophomore Emma Watanabe competed on the Boys Soccer team this year.

Sophomore Luc De Roode

Sophomore Charles Hsu, senior Brody Moller, senior Logan Daily, junior Lucas Felipe, sophomore Sully Rothwell (L20), senior Nic Cilia, junior Ethan Chen (L19), sophomore Max Kwon (L20), and coach Brad Weidlich celebrate a winning Boys’ Basketball season.

Junior Emanuel ZagataJacobson

Honoring MLK Day with Community Service Projects

Upper and Lower Campus students fanned out on five service trips to commemorate the MLK holiday and improve their community. They removed weeds and trimmed brush at the Ojai Meadows Preserve. They purged invasive ice plant near UC Santa Barbara. They developed a trail on Santa Cruz Island and they began the delicate work of restoring milkweed habitat for Monarch butterflies at the Upper Campus. After two years of pandemic delays, the opportunity to get outdoors and participate in restoration work was embraced by students and faculty alike. The largest group, 22 fourth graders and 16 high school students, ventured to the Channel Islands National Park to continue restoration work started years ago as part of the school’s “Hands on the Land” program.

Above: Seniors Logan Daily and Nic Jugan (L18) spread mulch for a new trail on Santa Cruz Island. Right: Fourth grader Soliman Becker and senior Alex Manning celebrate a job well done on Santa Cruz. Below: Sullivan Rothwell (L20) clears brush at UC Santa Barbara.

Stars Align for Upper Astronomy Students

The stars were aligned at Upper Campus this winter! Science teacher Micah Sittig has a daily assignment for his high school Astronomy students to check the Astronomy Picture of the Day, a website hosted by NASA that since 1995 has been posting daily photos or videos of our universe along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The January 12 photo was a telescope capture of Comet Leonard taken from Australia by none other than OVS alumnus Blake Estes (U07), who formerly worked at the Griffith Observatory and is now working for itelescope.net. Thank you Blake for helping our students discover the cosmos!

Celebrating

the Lunar New Year

Pops of red and orange color burst forth from the painting of a lounging tiger, an image junior India Getty-Pruss (L19) created in honor of the Lunar New Year. The talented artist, who is a student leader and captain of the Cross Country team, has always enjoyed art and has taken a range of AP art courses. But this year she broke new ground — being named the winner of the school’s annual competition. The Lunar New Year card contest was started in winter 2014 as a way of connecting with the many international families and alumni that celebrate the holiday. During the past eight years art teacher Chia Hersk (L88, U92) has challenged her students to depict Fire Monkeys, Earth Dogs, Metal Oxen and, now, Water Tigers. Here is a look at the past winners of the card contest. Wishing all our families a year of health and prosperity!

2022, Year of the Tiger: India Getty-Pruss (L19)

2021, Year of the Ox: Allyanna Westcott (L20)

2020, Year of the Rat: Piper Snowber

2019, Year of the Pig: Wendy Lazo-Dowdy (L15, U19)

2018, Year of the Dog: Wendy Lazo-Dowdy (L15, U19)

2017, Year of the Rooster: Wendy Lazo-Dowdy (L15, U19)

2016, Year of the Monkey: Misaki Koboyashi (U16)

2015, Year of the Goat: Misaki Koboyashi (U16)

2014, Year of the Snake: Ellen Liu (U14)

India Getty-Pruss (L19), with her tiger artwork.

Photo by Blake Estes (U07)

OVS Outdoor Education Tackles

New Adventures

Three teachers and 13 high schoolers traversed a portion of the Trans Catalina Trail this spring, stopping to surf, snorkel and kayak in the secluded harbors of Catalina’s windward side along the way. The group explored the geologic and natural history of the island, and visited the soapstone quarry that the Tongva people used to craft bowls and vessels. In between, they threw a double birthday party in a wind-sheltered palm tree alcove — complete with live music and salvaged balloons from their beach clean up. “With sore legs, full hearts and minds, we return to the real world,” said Outdoor Education Coordinator Zach Byars after the trip. Catalina is one of five islands that OVS students in grades 4-12 have explored this year, the others being Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. They have also hiked in the Sespe Wilderness, studied environmental science at Carrizo Plain National Monument, rock climbed at Joshua Tree National Park, and rafted down the Lower Colorado River.

At left: Senior Carlton Hsu, at Catalina. Bottom row, from left: Middle schoolers mountain biking in the Chumash Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest; AP Environmental Science students in Carrizo Plain National Monument; middle schoolers skiing and snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra Nevada; middle schooler Kian Rothwell in Joshua Tree National Park; and high school Honors students paddling on the Lower Colorado River.

Lower 1955

Tony Thacher (L55) is still working the family business, selling Ojai citrus at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market this spring and working alongside his children and grandchildren (also OVS alumni) at the Friend’s Ranches packing house, which sells many varieties of citrus with a focus on great tasting tangerines!

Lower 1987

Sally (McClenahan) Dyer (L87, U91) See Upper 1991

Roger Wang (L87, U91) See Upper 1991

Peter Orgolini (L87, U91) See Upper 1991

Lower 2003

Alex Hall-Mounsey (L03) married Leah Berman in March at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. Alex and Leah attended OVS summer camp together, where they met in 2001.

They attended each summer together from ages 12 to 15. Alex and Leah stayed in contact over the years, and started dating again in January 2017. They bought a home in Oak View together in July 2018, where they now have three cats, a dog, and five chickens. Leah is a Senior Interior Designer at House of Honey in Montecito and Alex is an agricultural specialist, helping to design commercial greenhouses with organic farming methods.

Lower 2004

Benjamin Malkin (L04) and his spouse, Amanda Erickson, welcomed the birth of their son, Oliver Robert Malkin, who was born on December 15, 2021. Ben has been working at the Lower Campus since 2013 in a variety of teaching and coaching roles, including middle school math teacher and sixth-grade advisor. Ben is also taking the reins from Eleanora Burright as the new OVS Summer Camp Director.

Lower 2011

Matt Gustafson (L11, U15) See Upper 2015

Lower 2014

Emma Gustafson (L14, U18) See Upper 2018

Lower 2015

Mattie White (L15) was recently hired at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, as an ambulatory veterinary assistant. Hagyard is the oldest and one of the largest private equine veterinary practices in the world. Mattie is a recent graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in equine science.

Lower 2018

Beckett McDowell (L18) See page 24

Upper 1987

Scott Gould (U87) and John Cook

exchanged wedding vows after 17 years together on February 14, 2022. The nuptials took place outside the United States Supreme Court building in Washington D.C., the city in which Scott and his husband reside.

Upper 1991

Sally (McClenahan) Dyer (L87, U91) and husband Patrick Dyer (U91) recently connected with classmates Roger Wang (L87, U91) and Peter Orgolini (L87, U91) in Colorado. Sally and Patrick took a break from the snow in Colorado for a fun trip to Mexico. They will be headed to Ojai in April for the Gala and the 26th Annual Pons Dinner, where Sally will be the guest speaker. She was recently appointed to the OVS Board of Trustees (See page 7).

Upper 2007

Blake Estes (U07) just had his first image published on the cover of a magazine – and it is on the cover

of none other than the prestigious Sky & Telescope Magazine! Blake is currently living in Australia and working as the Global Observatory Manager at itelescope.net. In addition to his spectacular photo of Comet Leonard making the cover of the magazine, Blake’s work was also featured as the Astronomy Picture of the Day on a website hosted by NASA and shared as a lesson in the Astronomy class at Upper Campus. (See story on page 17). Blake’s mom, Anna Marie Estes, said, “Every dream he ever dreamed came true. I’m so proud and happy for him.”

Upper 2015

Matt Gustafson (L11, U15), a veterinary student at the University of Glasgow, will complete the first half of his course of study this May. He is once again spending his spring break lambing in James Herriot country in the north of England. Earlier this year he joined a group of students who volunteered to

rehome chickens from a commercial egg producer. Sadly without efforts like these commercial hens are destroyed once they become 18 months old. Matthew still enjoys the outdoors, taking advantage of the beautiful wilderness area just north of Glasgow whenever possible.

Annie Wang (U17), a math major, will graduate this May from Cal State University Long Beach. She is currently interested in pursuing a Masters, and possibly a PhD, in cyber security. Annie had an enjoyable visit in late March with Equestrian Director Stephanie Gustafson and her husband, John. Besides helping at both the Lower and Upper barns, Annie was able to spend time with her school horse, Lana, and enjoyed a tour of the new Upper Campus buildings. She was blown away by the beauty of the view in the new girls lounge and kitchen. Her last evening with the Gustafsons was spent teaching them how to make dumplings.

Upper 2018

Emma Gustafson (L14, U18) will be graduating from New York University this May with a BS from the Steinhardt School. She is majoring in Media, Culture and Communication with a minor in the Business of Entertainment Media and Technology. She has accepted a job offer from Peter Thomas Roth Labs, based in Manhattan, in the Ecomm department.

Ellen Hou (U18) is graduating in May from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she has competed as a member of the SCAD equestrian team. She presented her senior thesis on “How Weight of the Rider Impacts Horse Performance.” She writes, “This quarter I am taking Competition Design and Instruction classes. My teammate and I will have a mock USEF level 4 dressage competition put together and ready to run by the end of the quarter. Another fun project that I’m working on is

a mock Emerging Athlete Program for pre-college athletes at SCAD for participants to bring their own horses. The program will consist of equine management, riding, sports psychology, and braiding workshops. My goal is to attract and to have a welcoming environment for pre-college athletes at both SCAD and the city of Savannah!” Ellen has also been keeping up with her riding. SCAD Equestrian dominated at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 5 finals on April 2 and Ellen placed second in Team Novice equitation. The team is headed to the IHSA National Championship at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on May 5-8. Go Bees!

Upper 2020

Josh Hsu (U20), a current student at Michigan State University, rolled into Ojai in March with fellow alumnus Max Wu (U19). The pair visited Upper Campus and then grabbed some pizza in town.

Upper 2021

Meline Ellwanger (U21) has been traveling the globe photographing wild animals, from the Sahara desert to the African jungles, Antarctica, and Canada. Last November, she traveled to Churchill, Canada, to photograph polar bears just 15 feet from her lens. She then traveled to Antarctica. She writes, “On the north part of Antarctica thousands upon thousands of Penguins nest, live, and raise their chicks. We spent 19 days in Antarctica before heading to South Georgia where we stood on a hill, overlooking the St. Andrews Bay colony where about 200,000 pairs of King Penguins nest. A sight I will never forget!” March brought Meline back north to Churchill, the time polar bear mothers emerge from their dens with their newborn cubs. “I spent nine days at Watchee Lodge in Wapusk National Park hoping to be able to witness and photograph this special moment in -45 degrees … Not only was I able to see a mother and her cubs, but

we were able to watch a mother with triplets. It is incredibly rare; the last set of triplets that were able to be observed was in 2015. We spent three entire days with her and it is by far the most amazing trip I have ever done. It was also the toughest trip I have ever done. Sitting in -45 degree weather for hours upon hours without moving, just looking through your camera is not an easy task. Your fingers start freezing, your toes are numb and you can’t feel anything in your face.

Your eyelashes start freezing and suddenly you have icicles hanging from your lashes and eyebrows and it is impossible to see anything. But it is so worth it and all the pain from the cold just vanishes when you watch these little balls of fur emerge. It was a special sight into the life of Earth’s biggest land apex predators.” Last year she was named Young Wilderness Safari’s Photographer of the Year, and a National Geographic Germany Newcomer Photographer.

In April, her work was featured on Nikon USA’s Instagram account.

Derek Mendoza (U21) is taking classes and playing baseball for the Oxnard College Condors. Derek was team co-captain for the OVS Spuds baseball team last year, which won the Omega League Championship. He is now a key left-handed pitcher in the Condors rotation. Derek is interested in majoring in sports broadcasting and baseball journalism.

Save the Date!

Join us for a Bay Area Alumni Gathering in San Francisco! Alumni of all eras are invited to attend a fall hike and picnic at Fort Baker, overlooking the San Francisco Bay, on Saturday, October 1. More details will be shared at Alumni Weekend. Email Wendy Tremiti at alumni@ovs.org if you’re interested in attending!

From Soccer Pitch to Spotify: Finding a Foothold in the Music Industry

By Erik Hately

Two years ago, Beckett McDowell (L18) was an Ojai Valley School sophomore taking conceptual chemistry and suffering through a long soccer season. However, with the rise of COVID-19, Beckett saw an opportunity to change the course of his life.

While many students yearned to return to in-person classes during the pandemic, Beckett embraced online learning because it provided a way to finish high school while putting the majority of his focus towards making music. For the past two years, he has been hard at work in the studio, writing, performing, and producing originals for the world to see.

On October 28, Beckett released his debut single Weirdo, which now has

more than 150,000 plays on Spotify. Weirdo was Beckett’s very first release in his professional music career and it has gained a fair amount of traction on both Tik Tok and Spotify.

Beckett, who attended OVS from sixth to 10th grade, is now finding his foothold in the industry. He met Pierre Bouvier, a Canadian musician and the lead singer of the band Simple Plan. Pierre saw the talent in Beckett and showed him one of his old Simple Plan songs called Weirdo

“When I listened to it, it was a poppunk song, so we developed it into more of a pop song,” Beckett said. “Once we did Weirdo, we started working on writing other originals.” Bouvier is now Beckett’s producer. So far, Beckett has been able to

create an eight-song album with more originals in the works. In March he released another single, Pale Blue Eyes, on Spotify.

“Hopefully I can get the attention of a label,” Beckett said. “I’ll be able to score a way better deal with a label than I would if I had a great song and nothing else.”

Join

JUNE 10-12, 2022

Return your completed form with payment by May 10, 2022 to: OVS Alumni Office, 723 El Paseo Road, Ojai, CA, 93023

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Jeff Hyland (L63), an architectural historian and co-founder and president of the luxury real estate brokerage Hilton & Hyland, passed away on February 16 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 75. Born in 1947 and raised in Southern California, Jeff developed an appreciation for architectural design at an early age. He grew up in the Little Holmby enclave between UCLA and Beverly Hills, and he became fascinated with the great estates emblematic of Hollywood’s golden age. It was a transformative time in Southern California with rapid residential growth and the intersection of divergent styles. For Jeff, the allure of classic architecture and rarified properties created a lasting impression. He was a great admirer of the architect Wallace Neff, who in the 1930s designed the classrooms at Ojai Valley School, where Jeff briefly attended in the 1960s.

After high school, Jeff was accepted into the prestigious Cornell School of Hotel Administration in New York. Ultimately, however, he returned to California and attended United States International University in San Diego, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. (There was also substantial time spent surfing in the early 1970s.) Jeff received his real estate license in 1975 and began his career first with Coldwell Banker and

Charles Elery (Chuck) Whipple II (L64, U67) passed away on the morning of November 21, 2021, in Ventura, surrounded by family. He was 73. Chuck was born in Ventura County to Louis and Mary Anne Whipple on December 27, 1947. He was raised in Ventura and went to school in Ojai as a young man, continuing his residence in the area most of his life. A Navy veteran, he served his country and acquired skills and stories that he brought with him through life. A citrus rancher for 20 years, Chuck possessed a love of the land, a respect for nature and animals, and a green thumb. He was an avid outdoorsman as well, spending time backpacking with his family, fishing, golfing, and walking on the beach with his beloved wife, Lynn, in his retirement.

Chuck and Lynn married in February 1969, the day after St. Valentine’s, an auspicious start to

later with Mike Silverman and Associates. He then became a founding partner at Alvarez, Hyland and Young, where he worked between 1980 and 1990. In 1993, he co-founded Hilton & Hyland with Rick Hilton. The firm has grown from its original intent of a highly personalized real estate shop to the highest producing luxury boutique brokerage in the world.

Jeff’s passion for architecture and history led him to co-author The Estates of Beverly Hills, published in 1984 and re-published in 1990. He also published The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills, a meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated history of 50 estates in Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and Holmby Hills. He was named “The Gatekeeper of Beverly Hills” by Town & Country and is frequently quoted in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, London Times and Wall Street Journal. He served as President of the Beverly Hills Board of Realtors, President of the Los Angeles County Board of Real Estate and State Director for the California Association of Realtors. He recently received the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art’s Legacy Award and The Will Rogers Real Estate Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Beverly Hills. Jeff is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lori Hyland, and leaves a lasting legacy as a philanthropist, author, and historian.

a life lived full of love for each other and the children and grandchildren that followed. Family meant everything to Chuck and the long list of those who are survived by him is testament to this familial devotion. In addition to Lynn, he is survived by their four children, Michele (Whipple) Floyd (L84), Jennifer (Whipple) Muller (U95), Charles Whipple (L95, U99), and Brittany Whipple (L02, U06); grandchildren,Connor Floyd (L11, U15), Gavin Floyd (L13, U17), Corbin Muller (U20), and Paige Muller (L18); and siblings Mimi, Robin, and David. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to those who were his friends and loved ones throughout his life. Chuck had a way about him that touched the hearts of anyone who was counted among that great number of people, and he will be remembered with love by all. A celebration of life was held on April 9, in one of Chuck’s favorite spots, the amphitheater at Upper Campus.

Jeff Hyland (L63)

Charles Elery (Chuck) Whipple (L64, U67)

Neil Marcus (L68, U71), an award-winning playwright, actor, teacher, and pioneering disability rights activist, died on November 17, 2021, at his home in Berkeley, California. He was 67. Neil was best known for his play Storm Reading, which chronicled a journey through a disabled man’s typical week and reminded audiences that, in his words: “Disability is not a brave struggle or courage in the face of adversity. Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live.”

Neil was born in Scarsdale, New York, in 1954. His family relocated to Ojai in 1960. Neil started as a fourth-grade day student at OVS, having by then been diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease, dystonia musculorum deforman, which affects muscles and speech. The disease progressed quickly, and Neil underwent three cyro-surgeries over a fiveyear period. He lived on campus for his three final years at OVS, jetting around the Upper Campus in a golf cart, and graduating in 1971 as class valedictorian.

After traveling alone to Laos and white-water rafting in Utah, Neil hitchhiked all the way from Ojai to Bellingham, Washington, where he attended Fairhaven College. He moved to Berkeley in 1980 and joined other activists to advocate for accommodations for disabled people while also writing plays. Storm Reading was written in collaboration with his brother, Roger. The pair took the play on the road, starting in Santa Barbara and eventually winding up at the historic Ford Theater and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In all, there were 300 performances of Storm Reading at theaters, colleges and schools throughout the U.S., as

well as England and Canada. The play won numerous awards, including the Outstanding Achievement in Play Writing Award from the U.N. Society of Writers, the Critics’ Choice Award, and Drama-Logue Magazine’s Best Leading Actor and Best Ensemble Awards.

Neil performed in the Bay Area and traveled to Europe and Australia. He has also served as a guest lecturer on arts and disability, and he co-taught a class at UC Berkeley entitled “Disability and Digital Storytelling.” In 2009, he collaborated with Petra Kuppers, a disability culture activist and Associate Professor of English, Theater, Dance, and Women Studies at the University of Michigan, to produce a book entitled Cripple Poetics: A Love Story. Neil also published Special Effects: Advancements in Neurology, which documents the early days of the disability rights movement. In 2014 the Smithsonian National Museum of American History commissioned Mr. Marcus to write a poem dedicating its online exhibition “EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability in America.”

In 2018 OVS alumna Elizabeth (Curran) Hermes (L66, U69) interviewed Neil for The Family Tree prior to a commemorative performance of Storm Reading at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theater. He described his dystonia as a condition – not a definition. “It affects the muscles in my body. They do not follow my command; they follow their own,” he said at the time. “I don’t want to dwell on having dystonia. I have a life to live. I have a heart and soul. I have a passion for living.” Neil is survived by his sisters, Wendy Marcus and Kendra Marcus, and his brothers, Roger Marcus and Russell Marcus.

Neil Marcus (L68, U71)

Rory O’Conor (U72) passed away peacefully at his home in Northfield, Illinois, on December 26, 2021, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. He was 68. A native of Glenview, Illinois, and lifelong Chicagoan, Rory leaves behind many friends and family members who will remember him for his kindness, humility, and his great sense of fun and laughter. Rory graduated from OVS and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Loyola University, Chicago, where he studied political science. He was an Associate Director at Cushman & Wakefield, and founded O’Conor

William Clark Von Essen (L82), a proud father and avid fisherman, passed away on July 4, 2021. He was 53. Clark was born to Elisabeth Jackie MacLeod and William Arthur Von Essen on December 9, 1967, in Newport Beach, California. He grew up in Fallbrook on his family’s Avocado Ranch before enrolling at Ojai Valley School. Clark graduated from Robert Lewis Stevenson and went to USC for a few years. Clark and his mother shared a deep love of the ocean and fishing, and he spent most of his time outdoors and on the water. Clark also spent a lot of time in Mexico growing up and he learned to speak the language fluently. He always called Mexico his home.

Clark married Nancy Von Essen on September 9, 2019, on the boat he worked on and loved, Shake n Bake, owned by Mike Colbach. Clark and Nancy shared a passion for the ocean and fishing and resided in Ilwaco, Washington.

Keith Lee Kirby (L99, U03) passed away suddenly on October 2, 2021 at his apartment home in Los Angeles. He was 37. Keith was born in Ojai to John Kirby and Patricia Strahlman on June 29, 1984. He attended elementary and high school at Ojai Valley School, and went on to pursue business law at Pierce College. He was an avid reader, and he enjoyed physical fitness and a healthy diet. Keith loved spending time

and Associates tax consulting in 2008.

Rory enjoyed his work, his life-long friends, golf and travel. Most important to him were the great loves of his life; his best friend and beloved life partner Susan Hendry McDonough, and his son Chase Carey O’Conor. Rory was a loving and devoted father to Chase, and a wonderful and caring partner to Susan. He is also survived by brother Vincent J. O’Conor III, sister Andi O’Conor, and nephew Sean Pete O’Conor. Rory left us far too soon, and he will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Albacore fishing was his forte and he was truly one of the best in the Pacific Northwest. Clark was an amazing father and taught his two daughters, Amber and Corinne Von Essen, from his first marriage to Aimee Von Essen, at a very young age the love of fishing and the outdoors. His family motto was to “Hold Fast” and he loved to watch his girls mature into strong independent women. Clark would tell them to “kick ass and take no prisoners” and “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Clark loved all life and had a soft spot for animals. He was an amazing chef and his wife, Nancy, absolutely loved to boast of his skills in the kitchen. Tacos were his most favored food, and he could eat them all day, every day! Clark had so many friends and made them easily. He had a larger-than-life charisma, and he made a huge impact on so many people’s lives. He will be truly missed and loved forever.

with his Mom during holidays and weekends, and with his dad watching sports and being with his pug, Willie. Keith is survived by his father, John Kirby; mother and stepfather Patty and Steve McGillivray; brother Kyle McGillivray and sister Elizabeth McGillivray; his beloved girlfriend Rosie Lone Elk; aunts Mary Lewis and Patrice McGillivray, and a large Strahlman family in Chicago. Keith will be missed by all.

Rory O’Conor (U72)

William Clark Von Essen (L82)

Keith Lee Kirby (L99, U03)

Faculty and Staff

Sheri Usher, a beloved middle school teacher at Ojai Valley School and Matilija Middle School, passed away on December 22, 2021, in a traffic accident traveling home from the Bay Area. She was 56. Sheri was born in Santa Barbara, California, on July 5, 1965, and moved to Ojai in 1977. She graduated from Villanova Preparatory School in 1983 and went on to attend Loyola Marymount College and San Diego State University. She later received her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from Cal State University Northridge and a special education credential and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Cal State University Channel Islands.

Sheri began her teaching career at Ojai Valley School, where she taught for 19 years. After her time there, she joined the teaching staff at the Ojai Unified School District, and fulfilled her dream of teaching at Matilija Middle School, where she was a student 44 years ago. Throughout her many years of teaching, Sheri was an enthusiastic advocate for her students. She encouraged creativity and collaboration in the classroom while making learning fun. Sheri met the love of her life, her husband of

28 years, James Usher, when she was directing a Boy Scout summer camp up in the Sierra Mountains. They were married in 1993. Six years later, they welcomed their son, Bodey, and two years after that, their daughter Rosey. Sheri was so proud of her children and their accomplishments. She wanted nothing more than for them to have a wonderful life.

Sheri traveled to many places in the world but was happiest when she was in the mountains. She spent many vacations in the Sierras with her family and friends, camping and hiking in the summers, and skiing in the winters. She also enjoyed camping at the beach, long bike rides with her husband, and walks with her much beloved dogs, Blue, Toby and Mary. A memorial for Sheri on March 19, 2022, drew hundreds of her former students, friends, and colleagues – a testament to the positive impact she left on so many who knew her and learned from her. We know that Sheri would want us to keep her legacy alive by living life to the fullest. Although we wanted more time with Sheri, we can be thankful for the memories, her sense of humor, infectious laughter, positivity and our times together with her.

Sheri Usher

Parents

If